Adjustable rotatable snowboard boot binding

ABSTRACT

A base plate with a ring of holes is secured to any existing snowboard. A flat rotatable plate has a two-position spring-loaded locking shaft which locks down in one of the holes to secure the boot binding at a desired stationary angle and alternately locks up out of the holes for free rotation. Any boot binding is attachable to the rotatable plate by a screw down cap, brackets in lateral slots, screws with bushings, side walls with screws, a binding-shaped groove, or a high friction plate surface. One plate has a protruding circular guide post and the other plate has a mating circular opening for encircling the guide post. A spring-loaded pin from one plate fits within an arc of a circular groove in the other plate to limit rotation of the boot for safety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to bindings for snowboards, and inparticular to an adjustable rotatable binding which is adjustablyconfigured to retrofit any of a variety of standard snowboard bootbindings and may be both locked in a stationary position and locked in afree rotation condition and which has an elevated lock ring to preventicing of the locking holes, spring-controlled rotation with a safetystop, and spring-loaded variations of the locking mechanism as well assnowboard boot binding attachment variations.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Snowboard boot bindings are normally screwed onto the snowboardin a permanent orientation which is almost perpendicular to thedirection of travel of the snowboard. This orientation is good forriding downhill on the snowboard, but is very uncomfortable whentraveling over a flat or uphill snow contour, when it is necessary torelease the back boot and use that boot to propel the snowboard. Havingthe front boot nearly perpendicular to the snowboard with the snowboardand back foot moving straight forward is very uncomfortable andpotentially dangerous because a fall in this orientation may injure theankle or knee joints of the snowboarder. Furthermore on a chair lifthaving the foot nearly perpendicular to the snowboard causes thesnowboard to be positioned across the front of the chair which is anawkward orientation for mounting and dismounting and is disturbing ordamaging to anyone seated on an adjacent chair. Mounting and dismountingthe chair lift poses a serious danger for potential injury with the footoriented nearly perpendicular to the snowboard.

[0005] It is desirable to be able to change the orientation of thesnowboard boot binding when traveling on flats and uphills and whenmounting and dismounting a chair lift to orient the front boot parallelto the snowboard for ease in propelling the snowboard forward with therear boot, which is released from the binding.

[0006] It is also desirable to be able to adjust the angle of thesnowboard boot binding to any desired orientation to the snowboard toadapt to individual preferences for best downhill snowboardingperformance and to accommodate different snow and terrain conditions.For example, a nearly perpendicular orientation of the boots may bebetter for broad sweeping turns down a wide slope, while a slightly moreforward orientation of the boots may be more desirable for moguls orsnowboarding, down narrow trails where tight fast turns are required.

[0007] In addition, a snowboarder may prefer to be able to adjust therear boot at a different orientation from the front boot, particularlyfor stunt snowboarding.

[0008] It is further desirable to be able to adjust a snowboard fittingto receive any of a variety of existing snowboard boots and bindings.

[0009] A number of prior art devices have provided rotatable snowboardbindings, but lack the improved performance and ease of adjustability ofthe present invention.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,755, issued Nov. 26, 1996 to Metzger et al.,provides a rotatable binding for a snowboard with a base plate on thesnowboard and a binding plate and foot binding rotatably mounted on topof the base plate with a locking assembly for selectively locking thebinding plate to the base plate at any desired angle. The top of thebase plate has an indexing platform with a circular series of bores toreceive a spring-loaded pin (or two pins) with a large loop for lockingthe binding plate in position. Indexing markers on the base plate alignthe pin or pins with the holes of the base plate. The Metzger patentdoes not have roller bearings, a screw-type lock which can be securelyfixed in the up or down position, an elevated lock ring to preventicing, a central guide post for ease of alignment during assembly, aneasy grasp elevated T-shaped lock handle for use with gloves or mittens,a positive engagement safety device to limit the degree of rotatabilityduring free rotation, a spring rotation control, or a retrofitcapability for using the existing boot binding and snowboard.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,649, issued Oct. 23, 1990 to Chamberlin,shows a snowboard boot binder which allows the rider to rotate his bootswhile riding the snowboard. It has two base plates secured to the boardand two plates with boot binders rotatably connected to the base plates.Springs between each rotating plate and each base plate limit relativemotion therebetween and bias the rotating plates to return to theoriginal angle of orientation after the rider rotates the plates. TheChamberlain patent does use ball bearings. It does not have a securescrew-type up and down locking device, does not have an elevated lockring to prevent icing, a central guide post for ease of alignment duringassembly, an easy grasp elevated T-shaped lock handle for use withgloves or mittens, a positive engagement safety device to limit thedegree of rotatability during free rotation, and does not have retrofitcapability.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,779, issued Dec. 24, 1996 to Dawes et al.,claims an adjustable snowboard boot binding apparatus which is rotatablyadjustable “on the fly” without removing the boot from the binding andis compatible with existing snowboard boot bindings. A central hub isattached to the board and a top binding mounting plate and bottomcircular rotating plate are interconnected and sandwich the hub betweenthem, so that the binding plate and circular plate rotate on a bearingbetween the binding plate and the central hub. No snow or ice maypenetrate to the hub. A spring-loaded plunger lock mechanism locks thebinding plate to the central hub in a series of holes in the hub.Alternately, gear teeth on the hub may interact with a plunger to lockthe device. Several other locking devices are shown. The Dawes patentdoes not have a secure screw-type up and down locking device. The Dawespatent does have a retrofit capability, but does not provide alow-friction ring between the binding and the cap plate to allow the capplate to be bolted tight to the snowboard and bottom baseplate to securethe entire assembly with only four bolts with the binding and rotatableplate sandwiched rotatably between the cap plate and baseplate, andinstead the Dawes patent requires a number of screws or bolts securingvarious layers of plates together for relative rotation therebetween.The Dawes patent does not provide an elevated lock ring to preventicing, a central guide post for ease of alignment during assembly, apositive engagement safety device to limit the degree of rotatabilityduring free rotation, a spring rotation control, or an easy graspelevated T-shaped lock handle for use with gloves or mittens.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,068, issued Jul. 2, 1991 to Donovan,describes a quick-action adjustable snowboard boot binding comprising asupport plate to which a conventional boot binding is mounted. Thesupport plate is fixedly attached to a circular swivel plate whichrotates, via a center bearing, relative to a base plate attached to theboard. A cable encircles a groove in the swivel plate and a handlepivots up to release the cable for adjusting the angle of the swivelplate and pivots down to tighten the swivel plate at a desired angle.Both boot bindings are angularly adjustable. The Donovan patent does nothave a secure screw-type up and down locking device and does not haveretrofit capability to fit any existing binding, and does not have anelevated lock ring to prevent icing, a central guide post for ease ofalignment during assembly, a positive engagement safety device to limitthe degree of rotatability during free rotation, a spring rotationcontrol, or an easy grasp elevated T-shaped lock handle for use withgloves or mittens.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,689, issued Nov. 16, 1993 to Carpenter etal., discloses a snowboard binding system utilizing a binding platesupported on the snowboard with a circular disk-shaped hold-down plateover the binding plate. The binding plate rotates relative to thehold-down plate, which each have ribs or ridges which interact to lockthe rotational position of the binding plate. The boot must be removedand attaching screws loosened to change the angular orientation. Bothbindings are rotatable. The Carpenter patent does not have a securescrew-type up and down locking device and does not have retrofitcapability. Further, Carpenter lacks a wide track roller bearing, anelevated lock ring to prevent icing, a central guide post for ease ofalignment during assembly, a positive engagement safety device to limitthe degree of rotatability during free rotation, a spring rotationcontrol, and an easy grasp elevated T-shaped lock handle for use withgloves or mittens.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,883, issued Sep. 10, 1996 to Erb, indicates asnowboard binding which permits angular reorientation of a user's footwhile maintaining that foot attached to the snowboard and utilizes afootplate that is rotatably connected in close proximity to thesnowboard by a circular anchor plate. A pair of spring biased pinsinserted in a circular array of holes in the snowboard lock thefootplate at any desired angle. Both bindings are rotatable. The Erbpatent does not have a secure screw-type up and down locking device, aretrofit capability, a large diameter roller bearing, an elevated lockring to prevent icing, a central guide post for ease of alignment duringassembly, a positive engagement safety device to limit the degree ofrotatability during free rotation, a spring rotation control, or an easygrasp elevated T-shaped lock handle for use with gloves or mittens.

[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,088, issued Oct. 11, 1994 to Vetter et al.,puts forth a coupling for releasably mounting a boot with boot bindingto a turntable ring which is adjustably secured to a snowboard. A springloaded pin with a long cord is the locking mechanism. The Vetter patentdoes not have a secure screw-type up and down locking device, a retrofitcapability, a large diameter roller bearing, an elevated lock ring toprevent icing, a central guide post for ease of alignment duringassembly, a positive engagement safety device to limit the degree ofrotatability during free rotation, a spring rotation control, or an easygrasp elevated T-shaped lock handle for use with gloves or mittens.

[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,237, issued Sep. 16, 1997 to Lauer, concernsa rotary locking feature for a snowboard binding allowing rotation of asnowboard binding relative to the snowboard without removal of thebinding from the boot. It utilizes a releasable latch integral with thebinding to disengage a rotatable locking mechanism having a stationarycircular hub notched around the perimeter with a spring-loaded pointerengaging the notches to lock the rotating binding in place at a desiredangle. The Lauer patent does not have a secure screw-type up and downlocking device, a retrofit capability, a large diameter roller bearing,an elevated lock ring to prevent icing, a central guide post for ease ofalignment during assembly, a positive engagement safety device to limitthe degree of rotatability during free rotation, a spring rotationcontrol, or an easy grasp elevated T-shaped lock handle for use withgloves or mittens.

[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,837, issued Mar. 19, 1996 to Hale et al.,illustrates a swivelable mount for a snowboard having a rotatablebinding plate attached to a circular plate which rotates in a circulargroove of a base plate secured to the snowboard. A handle with a cam andspring-loaded pin secures the binding plate at a desired angle. The Halepatent does not have a secure screw-type up and down locking device, aretrofit capability, a large diameter roller bearing, an elevated lockring to prevent icing, a central guide post for ease of alignment duringassembly, a positive engagement safety device to limit the degree ofrotatability during free rotation, a spring rotation control, or an easygrasp elevated T-shaped lock handle for use with gloves or mittens.

[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,116, issued Mar. 1, 1988 to Hill, is for areleasable binding for snowboards having a ring secured to a snowboardand a block rotatably mounted on the ring with boot-engaging plugs ateach end of the block. A spring-loaded double pin locking system isoperated by a handle to move both pins simultaneously for locking thebinding at a desired angle. The Hill patent does not have a securescrew-type up and down locking device, a retrofit capability, a largediameter roller bearing, an elevated lock ring to prevent icing, acentral guide post for ease of alignment during assembly, a positiveengagement safety device to limit the degree of rotatability during freerotation, a spring rotation control, or an easy grasp elevated T-shapedlock handle for use with gloves or mittens.

[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,337, issued Oct. 3, 1989 to Harris, providesa binding for a snowboard (and water ski board) with longitudinal andangular adjustment. Riding plates move along a channel running down thecenter of the board traveling on a pivotable connector riding in thechannel locked in place by a thumbscrew. The Harris patent does not havea secure screw-type up and down locking device, a retrofit capability, alarge diameter roller bearing, an elevated lock ring to prevent icing, acentral guide post for ease of alignment during assembly, a positiveengagement safety device to limit the degree of rotatability during freerotation, a spring rotation control, or an easy grasp elevated T-shapedlock handle for use with gloves or mittens.

[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,492, issued Dec. 17, 1996 to Fardie, providesan adjustable snowboard binding assembly which can be rotatablycontrolled without the use of external tools. The snowboard mountingplatforms each have a plurality of inwardly facing radial teeth alongthe circumference of a centralized circular cutout, the bottom of whichrests on four quadrant segments connected to a stainless steel bandwhich moves along a groove in the center of the board activated by alever. The mounting platform can rotate relative to the four quadrantsegments and is locked in place at a desired angle by two spring loadedsliding segments with mating teeth to engage the teeth on the mountingplatform to lock it in place at a desired angle. The Fardie patent doesnot have a secure screw-type up and down locking device, a retrofitcapability, a large diameter roller bearing, an elevated lock ring toprevent icing, a central guide post for ease of alignment duringassembly, a positive engagement safety device to limit the degree ofrotatability during free rotation, a spring rotation control, or an easygrasp elevated T-shaped lock handle for use with gloves or mittens.

[0022] None of the prior art enable a secure locking of the snowboardboot binding in either the hold down position or the freely rotatingposition. They require holding the locking mechanism to allow rotationand releasing the locking mechanism to lock it by spring action orfriction. They further lack a central guide post for ease of alignmentduring assembly combined with a retrofit capability, an easy graspelevated T-shaped lock handle for use with gloves or mittens, largediameter roller bearings for ease of rotation, a positive engagementsafety device to limit the degree of rotatability during free rotation,and an elevated lock ring to prevent icing of the locking holes. Theprior art patents do not provide a low-friction ring with bottom teethengaging the teeth of the existing boot binding to preserve the teeth ofthe existing boot binding and a top low-friction surface of thelow-friction ring contacting the cap plate to permit rotation of theboot binding beneath the cap plate.

[0023] None of the prior art devices provide an advertising oridentification plate combined with the snowboard binding.

[0024] None of the prior art devices provide an adjustable means toallow a rotatable binding apparatus to be used with any of a variety ofexisting snowboard boots and bindings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0025] A primary object of the present invention is to provide arotatable snow board boot binding device with adjustable means toreceive any of a variety of differently sized and differently shapedsnowboard boots and bindings and hold the bindings to a rotatable platewith a secure fit to enable rough handling in operation but with a meansfor easily securing any of a variety of bindings to the rotatable plateand easily removing them.

[0026] Another primary object of the present invention is to provide aretrofit device adapted to existing snowboards and existing snowboardboot bindings which retrofit device converts the existing snowboard bootbinding into a rotatable snowboard boot binding which has a lockingmechanism for locking the binding in a stationary position or lockingthe binding in a rotatable position. Locking the mechanism in the upposition allows hands-free rotation of the snowboard boot binding whilestanding upright or with bended knees in the downhill position to insurethe exact angle of orientation of the boot binding with the snowboard.Locking the mechanism in a down position engaging the locking ring holewith the screw locking mechanism with the snowboard boot binding in anydesired angular orientation to the snowboard insures that the boot willnot slip out of the desired position for downhill boarding with bothfeet angled, or for level and uphill propelling with one foot alignedwith the snowboard and the other free. On the ski lift one boot islocked securely at a comfortable and safe straight alignment with thesnowboard for ease and safety of mounting and dismounting andtrouble-free straight orientation while riding the lift.

[0027] A related object of the present invention is to provide a springloaded locking mechanism for ease of insertion with the spring biasingthe mechanism in the locked orientation for ease of insertion. Thespring loaded locking mechanism may be employed in the double lockingmechanism or a conventional lock down only mechanism.

[0028] A secondary object of the present invention is to provide anelevated locking ring which elevates the locking holes into which thelocking shaft is inserted higher than the level of the snowboard so thatwater and slush will not collect in the locking holes and freeze, whichwould prevent the insertion of the locking shaft in the locking holes.

[0029] A third object of the present invention is to provide an elevatedT-handle or L-handle on the locking shaft, which handle protrudesvertically for ease of grasping and operation with a gloved or mittenedhand.

[0030] Another object of the present invention is to provide a largediameter roller bearing or pair of large diameter roller bearings for afree and easy rotation of the boot binding regardless of the weight ofthe snowboarder. The large diameter roller bearing further enables theuse of large bearings which are less likely to become immobile fromicing.

[0031] One more object of the present invention is to provide a retrofitdevice to convert an existing snowboard boot binding into a rotatablesnowboard boot binding, which retrofit device has the screw holeconfigurations to adapt to the commonly used snowboard boot bindings sothat the existing bindings are merely unscrewed, the device of thepresent invention is placed under the existing binding and four bolts(or three bolts) secure the cap plate, existing binding, and the deviceof the present invention to the snowboard. A low-friction ring withbottom teeth fits into the teeth of the existing boot binding topreserve the teeth of the existing boot binding, while a low-frictiontop surface of the low-friction ring contacts the cap plate to allowrotation of the boot binding and rotatable plate of the inventionrelative to the cap plate.

[0032] An additional object of the present invention is to provide anelevated large diameter guide post in the center of the base plate forease of aligning and mounting the rotatable plate thereon with the largecenter opening of the rotatable plate engaging the guide post of thebase plate.

[0033] An alternate object of the present invention is to provide therotatable plate with a downwardly extending guide post in the center ofthe rotatable plate, the guide post fitting rotatably within a centeropening in the base plate and retained rotatably therein by a C-clip ina circular slot adjacent to the end of the guide post on the undersideof the base plate.

[0034] A related object of the present invention is to provide a flattop surface on the rotatable plate to which any existing snowboard bootbinding may be attached by screw means or other attaching means.

[0035] A further object of the present invention is to provide arotatable plate with a wide rectangular groove for receiving allstandard snowboard boot bindings therein for a universal retrofitcapability.

[0036] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide apositive engagement safety device in the form of a pin on one plate anda mating arc of a circular groove on the adjacent plate, one of whichplates is rotatable relative to the other, to limit the degree ofrotatability during free rotation to a safe arc of about 100 degrees(plus or minus 15 degrees), thereby preventing injuries which mightoccur if the foot were capable of rotating further.

[0037] A corollary object of the present invention is to provide one ormore springs attachable between the two plates to control rotation.

[0038] An added object of the present invention is to provide anelevated flat labeling surface on the rotatable plate for advertisinginformation, such as a name and phone number of the seller of thesnowboard, or for engraving the name of the owner or any other desiredinformation thereon.

[0039] In brief, a base plate with an elevated central guide post andhole configuration to mate with standard snowboard holes is secured tothe snowboard. A rotatable plate has a circular opening slightly largerthan the guide post and fits rotatably over the guide post. Therotatable plate has an adjustable means to receive any of a variety ofsizes and shapes of standard snowboard boot bindings. L-shaped bracketssliding in transverse grooves across the rotatable plate serve to holdthe binding in the preferred embodiment. Other embodiments use removablebolts with bushings in different holes in the rotatable plate, variablesizes and shapes of grooves in the rotatable plate, side bolts throughside ridges, and a high-friction upper surface of the rotatable platecontacting the binding.

[0040] A cap having similar mating holes and bolts or screws is screwedthrough the base plate holes into the mating holes in the snowboard. Thecap has an elevated outer rim which fits rotatably in a recessed groovein the boot binding and a recessed circular bottom which fits through acircular opening in the boot binding and mating circular opening in therotatable plate to contact the guide post of the base plate. Therotatable plate and boot binding are rotatably sandwiched between thecap and the base plate.

[0041] A low-friction ring with bottom teeth and top low-frictionsurface is set into the teeth of the existing boot binding with thelow-friction top surface contacting the cap plate, or a large rollerbearing ring may be installed between the cap plate and the low frictionplate. Another large roller bearing ring may be installed between therotatable plate and the base plate to facilitate the ease of rotation ofthe integrated rotatable plate and boot binding.

[0042] A screw-type locking mechanism on the rotatable plate has anupwardly protruding T-shaped or L-shaped handle which is easy to graspand operate with mittens or gloves. In a preferred embodiment, a lockingmechanism has a handle, which may be a T-shaped handle, attached to aspring-loaded locking post with a pair of opposing tabs protruding oneach side of the post and a mating split-ring interlocking means havingopposing openings the full height of the ring on each side of the ringfor receiving and locking the tabs in the locked position with the postfully engaging the rotatable plate and the base plate so that norotation takes place. The split ring further comprises recessed notcheson opposing sides of the top split circular surface of the ring offsetby 90 degrees from the slit openings, so that the handle may be pulledupward to pull the tabs out of the slits and turned 90 degrees andreleased to engage the tabs in the notches, thereby locking the post upout of engagement with the base plate so that the rotatable plate isfree to rotate.

[0043] Another embodiment provides a spring-loaded post with an L-shapedhandle fitting within a locking ring formed by a circular ring having anangled top surface with a notch at the high end of the angled topsurface. In the locked down position, the handle rests at the low end ofthe angled surface biased downwardly by the spring so that the postengages both the rotatable plate and the base plate and rotation isprevented. Alternately the L-shaped handle is turned 180 degrees movingthe handle up the angled surface to the top where the protruding tab ofthe L-shaped handle rests in the recessed notch at the top of the angledsurface, thereby locking the post up out of engagement with the baseplate so that the rotatable plate is free to rotate.

[0044] In another embodiment, a square cross-section lock shaft fitsslidably within a sleeve with exterior threads and four binding tabs.When the sleeve is screwed tight into a lock base on the rotatableplate, sloping walls of the lock base press the four binding tabsagainst the sides of the lock shaft to bind the lock shaft in place.When the sleeve is partially unscrewed, the binding tabs recede from thesloping walls and the lock shaft is free to slide up and down. The lockshaft may be locked in a down position with the end of the shaft throughany of a series of holes in a lock ring around the perimeter of the baseplate to lock the rotatable plate and boot binding securely in anydesired horizontal angular orientation to the snowboard. Alternately,the lock shaft may be securely locked in an up position with the end ofthe lock shaft above the base plate, so that the rotatable plate andboot binding rotates freely without holding the lock mechanism, enablingthe snowboarder to stand in any position to adjust the boot binding atany desired angle. The lock shaft may be spring biased to assist ininserting the shaft into one of the holes in the lock ring. Alternately,a shaft without a locking mechanism may have a spring biasing the shaftin the lock position, so that upon lifting the shaft out of the lockposition rotating the rotatable plate to a desired position, andreleasing the shaft, it will automatically be biased into the hole inthe lock shaft by the spring.

[0045] The lock ring of the base plate is elevated above the snowboardto enable water, slush, and snow to drain out of the lock holes bygravity to prevent icing in the holes, so that the lock shaft willalways fit easily into the lock holes.

[0046] A positive engagement safety device comprises a pin on either therotatable plate or the base plate engaging a mating arc of a circulargroove on the other plate, with the pin stopped at each end of the arcto limit the degree of rotatability during free rotation to a safe arcof about 100 degrees, thereby preventing injuries which might occur ifthe foot were capable of rotating further. A pair of springs positionedin the groove with one on each side of the pin control the rotation rateof the rotatable plate and cause the rotatable plate to return to itsoriginal position upon release of the rotatable plate.

[0047] One advantage of the present invention is that it securely andremovably holds any of a variety of snow board boot binding sizes andshapes to prevent the binding from moving horizontally on the rotatableplate.

[0048] Another advantage of the present invention is that a snowboardboot binding is easily rotatable by the snowboarder in any position,standing or kneeling or whatever, without the need for the snowboarderto hold onto the lock mechanism while rotating the boot binding. Thisenables the snowboarder to adjust the angle of the binding to the exactangular orientation desired for different positions of performance anddifferent snow conditions. It enables the snowboarder to make theadjustments while on the slope or the flat or on the lift.

[0049] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the lockholes will not ice up, so that the lock mechanism always operates easilyand smoothly with the lock shaft sliding easily into the lock holes.

[0050] Still another advantage of the present invention is that thelarge upwardly protruding T-shaped handle or L-shaped handle is easilygripped and operated by the snowboard with mittens or gloves on.

[0051] A corollary advantage of the present invention is that thescrew-type lock locks securely without danger of the lock shaft beingknocked out of the lock holes by rough operation of the snowboard andthe large T-shaped or L-shaped handle provides the leverage to enablethe snowboarder to screw the lock mechanism down tightly. Having aspring biasing the lock shaft in a downward position of a slopingsurface or into a notch further insures a secured locked engagement ofthe shaft in either the up or down position.

[0052] An additional advantage of the present invention is that it maybe retrofit to any existing snowboard and utilize the existing bootbinding on the snowboard, so that only the rotatable plate, base plate,cap plate, optional low-friction ring, and optional bearings need beacquired to convert an existing snowboard with stationary boot bindingsinto a snowboard with one or two rotatable adjustable boot bindings.

[0053] A related advantage of the present invention is that thelow-friction ring preserves the teeth of the existing boot binding whileproviding a low-friction surface to contact the cap plate or theoptional roller bearing between the cap plate and the low-friction ring,allowing free rotation of the boot binding.

[0054] One more advantage of the present invention is that it is easilyand accurately installed with mating holes aligning the base plate withthe snowboard, a guide post aligning the rotatable plate and cap withthe base plate, and a wide groove aligning the existing boot bindingwith the rotatable plate, requiring only four bolts to secure eachconverted boot binding to the snowboard.

[0055] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that usinglarge diameter roller bearing rings allows very easy rotation of theboot binding.

[0056] Still another advantage of the present invention is that having apositive engagement safety limit of rotation of the boot permits freerotation of the boot without danger of rotating too far to create aninjury.

[0057] A further advantage of the present invention is that it providesan elevated advertising or name plate surface clearly visible on therotatable plate on the other side of the boot binding groove opposite tothe lock mechanism.

[0058] These and other features, objects and advantages will beunderstood or apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment asillustrated in the various drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the components ofthe invention aligned for assembly with the existing snowboard andexisting snowboard boot binding and showing the preferred flat rotatableplate having a downwardly protruding guide post rotatably engaging astationary base plate and a flat top surface for attaching any existingsnowboard boot binding directly to the plate which locks alternately ina rotatable configuration and stationary configuration;

[0060]FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view showing the components ofthe invention aligned for assembly with the existing snowboard andexisting snowboard boot binding and showing a rotatable plate having acenter opening to receive an upwardly protruding guide post from thestationary plate, the rotatable plate having notches with movable anglesand screws thereon as an adjustable means for securing any boot bindingto the rotatable plate;

[0061]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through the centerline ofthe assembled invention of FIG. 1;

[0062]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the T-shaped lock handle,square lock shaft, and externally threaded sleeve with binding tabsfitting slidably over the lock shaft;

[0063]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the lock baseshowing the externally threaded sleeve screwed down tight with thetapered walls of the lock base forcing the binding tabs against the lockshaft to bind it in place;

[0064]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through the lock baseshowing the externally threaded sleeve screwed only part way into thelock base so that the binding tabs are apart from the lock shaft and thelock shaft is free to slide up and down in the externally threadedsleeve;

[0065]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through the centerline ofthe assembled invention of FIG. 1A having only a lower roller bearingbetween the rotatable plate and the base plate and no upper rollerbearing;

[0066]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through the centerline ofthe assembled invention of FIG. 1A having only an upper roller bearingbetween the binding attaching plate and the boot binding and no lowerroller bearing;

[0067]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken through the centerline ofthe assembled invention of FIG. 1A having no upper roller bearing and nolower roller bearing;

[0068]FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of an alternateembodiment of the locking mechanism with a downwardly biasing spring onthe double screw lock in the locked mode released spring position sothat the locking post downwardly engages the base plate to preventrotation of the rotatable plate;

[0069]FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of thealternate embodiment of the locking mechanism of FIG. 9 with adownwardly biasing spring on the double screw lock in the springcompressed position and the locking post elevated out of engagement withthe base plate so that the rotatable plate may be freely rotated;

[0070]FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of anotheralternate embodiment of the locking mechanism with a downwardly biasingspring on a non-threaded spring-loaded lock shaft with the spring in thereleased position so that the locking post downwardly engages the baseplate to prevent rotation of the rotatable plate;

[0071]FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the otheralternate embodiment of the locking mechanism of FIG. 11 with adownwardly biased spring on a non-threaded spring-loaded lock shaft lockin the spring compressed position and the locking post elevated out ofengagement with the base plate so that the rotatable plate may be freelyrotated;

[0072]FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the base plate showingthe safety means groove and mating pin from the rotatable plate with apair of springs inserted in the groove with one on each side of the pin;

[0073]FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of therotatable plate having as adjustable binding securing means comprisingL-shaped brackets sliding in transverse slots with screws throughslotted openings to secure the tabs adjustably within the slots andshowing a snowboard boot binding aligned to be secured between the tabson the plate;

[0074]FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view taken through anotherembodiment one of the transverse slots of the rotatable plate andalternate embodiments of the L-shaped brackets aligned for insertion inthe slots wherein both the transverse slots and the L-shaped bracketshave mutually engaging sharp teeth ridges to secure the tabs againsthorizontal movement;

[0075]FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an alternate embodiment ofthe rotatable plate having a variably shaped groove in the plate toreceive an aligned mating shaped snowboard boot binding within thegroove to prevent horizontal movement of the binding on the plate;

[0076]FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an alternate embodiment ofthe rotatable plate having bolts with rubber bushings removablysecurable in any of a series of holes around the circumference of theplate to secure the aligned snowboard boot binding between the bolts toprevent horizontal movement of the binding on the plate;

[0077]FIG. 18A shows a side elevational view of one of the bolts of theembodiment of FIG. 17 having a rounded bushing;

[0078]FIG. 18B shows a side elevational view of another of the bolts ofthe embodiment of FIG. 17 having a conical bushing;

[0079]FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an alternate embodiment ofthe rotatable plate having a central groove across the rotatable platehaving elevated side ridges through which bolts are removably securableto engage the sides of the snowboard boot binding aligned with the plateto prevent horizontal movement of the binding on the plate;

[0080]FIG. 20 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the rotatableplate having a high friction surface to engage the bottom surface of thesnowboard boot binding to prevent the horizontal movement of the bindingon the plate;

[0081]FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken through a centerline ofthe alternate embodiment of the rotatable plate of FIG. 20 showing theprotruding points of the high friction surface on top of the plate;

[0082]FIG. 22 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of analternate embodiment of the locking mechanism with a downwardly biasingspring on a locking shaft with an L-shaped handle movable on an angledtop rim of a sleeve and shown in the locked mode released springposition so that the handle is at the bottom of the angled top rim andthe locking post downwardly engages the base plate to prevent rotationof the rotatable plate;

[0083]FIG. 23 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of thealternate embodiment of the locking mechanism of FIG. 22 with the handleengaged in a notch at the top of the angled rim, the spring in thecompressed position, and the locking post elevated out of engagementwith the base plate so that the rotatable plate may be freely rotated;

[0084]FIG. 24 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a preferredembodiment of the locking mechanism with a T-shaped handle having sidetabs protruding from the lock post which tab engage the two sides of aslot in a slotted ring encircling the lock post and a downwardly biasingspring on the lock shaft with the spring in the released position sothat the locking post downwardly engages the base plate to preventrotation of the rotatable plate;

[0085]FIG. 25 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the otheralternate embodiment of the locking mechanism of FIG. 24 with thelocking post elevated and turned 90 degrees so that the tabs are lockedin notches on each side of the top rim of the split ring at 90 degreesto the slit, and the lock shaft lock in the spring compressed position,and the base of the locking post elevated out of engagement with thebase plate so that the rotatable plate may be freely rotated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0086] In FIGS. 1, 2 and 6-8 the invention comprises a rotatablesnowboard boot binding device having a pair of rigid plates which may beretrofit to a standard snowboard 70 (shown dashed) and a standardsnowboard boot binding 60 (shown dashed). A base plate 50 is adapted tobe secured to the snowboard 70 with mating holes 53 in the bottom baseplate to match the standard holes 73 in the snowboard 70 securedtogether by screws or bolts 21 screwed into the snowboard holes 73.

[0087] The rotatable plate 30 is rotatably connected to the base platewith one plate having a protruding circular guide post and the otherplate having a mating circular opening for encircling the guide post. InFIGS. 1 and 2 the guide post 140 extends downwardly from the center ofthe rotatable plate 30 and fits rotatably in a central opening 51 in thebase plate. As seen in FIG. 2, a retaining pin 146, such as a C-shapedspring clip, fits within a circular groove 145 around the guide post 140adjacent to the bottom to retain the rotatable plate 30 rotatablyattached to the base plate 50 with the retaining pin 146 accommodated bya recessed groove 52 on the underside of the base plate around thecenter opening 51.

[0088] In FIGS. 1 and 2, a cap plate 20 secures the boot binding 60 tothe rotatable plate 30 so that the boot binding and rotatable plate arerotatable relative to the base plate 50. The boot binding 60 has acircular opening therethrough and the cap plate 20 has an elevatedperipheral rim 26 and a downwardly protruding circular bottom 28,smaller in diameter than the binding circular opening, so that thedownwardly protruding circular bottom of the cap plate is capable offitting into the mating circular opening and contacting the rotatableplate 30 to which the cap plate is secured by bolts 21, or otherattaching means in holes 143, while the elevated peripheral rim 26 ofthe cap plate 20 secures the boot binding 60 to the rotatable plate 30by the interlocking of the top teeth 81 and bottom teeth 61 therebylocking the boot binding 60 to the rotatable plate 30.

[0089] In FIG. 1A an alternate embodiment has bolts or screws 21 throughmating holes 23 in a top cap plate 20 secure the existing boot binding60 and the rotatable plate 30 to the base plate 50 and to the existingsnowboard 70 so that the boot binding and rotatable plate are rotatablerelative to the base plate 50 and the top cap plate 20. The downwardlyprotruding circular bottom 28 of the cap plate 20 is slightly smallerthan the circular opening 65 formed by an inner circular wall 64 in theexisting boot binding 60 and the outer elevated peripheral lip 26 of thecap plate 20 is slightly smaller in diameter than the outer circularwall 62 in the boot binding, so that the boot binding is free to rotaterelative to the cap plate. The height of the circular wall 24 of the capplate 20 is such that with the downwardly protruding circular bottom 28of the cap plate 20 firmly secured to the protruding circular guide post55 of the base plate 50, the outer elevated lip 26 of the cap plate 20does not restrict the circular ridge with teeth 61 of the boot binding60 so that the boot binding 60 and the rotatable plate 30 are free torotate relative to the cap plate. A low-friction ring 80 (shown dashed)has bottom teeth 81 to engage the teeth 61 of the boot binding 60 and atop low-friction surface 86 to contact the outer elevated lip 26 of thecap plate 20 for easier rotation between the cap plate and the bootbinding and to preserve the teeth 61 of the boot binding 60. A top largediameter roller bearing ring 27 with roller bearings 29 may bepositioned between the cap plate 20 and the low-friction ring 80 tofacilitate rotation therebetween.

[0090] In FIGS. 1A, 6-8 and 14-21 the rotatable plate has a bindingretaining means 100, 37B, 17, 21D, and 110 for receiving and securing asnowboard boot binding 60 and 60A selected from a variety of snowboardboot bindings of various sizes and shapes. The binding retaining meansis configured to adapt to the size and shape of the snowboard bootbinding and confine the snowboard boot binding to a single stationaryposition on the rotatable plate to prevent horizontal movement of thesnowboard boot binding relative to the rotatable plate.

[0091] In FIGS. 6-8, a top rotatable plate 30 is adapted for receiving astandard snowboard binding 60 in a wide recessed groove area 38 havingside walls 37, the top rotatable plate secured to the bottom base plateby a rotatable means such as a circular opening 35, as seen in FIG. 1A,in the rotatable plate 30 fits over the slightly smaller diametercircular elevated guide post 55 of the bottom base plate 50 allowingrotation therebetween. A large diameter bottom roller bearing ring 27with roller bearings 29 may fit between the plates to facilitate therotation.

[0092] In FIGS. 1A and 14, the rotatable plate 30A is configured withtwo parallel slots 105 positioned transversely to the boot binding 60.Each of the slots has a series of threaded holes 109 in the bottom ofthe slot. The preferred embodiment of the binding retaining meanscomprises a pair of opposing L-shaped brackets 100, each having anelongated opening 103 through a bottom leg, and a screw means 21 foreach of the L-shaped brackets securing each of the L-shaped bracketsadjustably through the elongated opening 103 of each of the L-shapedbrackets and into one of the series of holes 109 within each of theslots 105 with one of the L-shaped brackets 100 on each side of the bootbinding contacting the boot binding. Each of the L-shaped brackets ispreferably provided with a resilient pad 101, such as rubber or asynthetic rubberlike substance with resilience and high friction,attached by adhesion or other means to the upright leg of the L-shapedbracket 100 to assist in creating a tight fit for the boot binding 60and help resist movement of the boot binding horizontally along therotatable plate 30A.

[0093] In FIG. 1A the pair of L-shaped brackets 100 further comprise athreaded opening 104 through a top leg of each bracket and furthercomprising a screw means 21A capable of being threaded through eachthreaded opening to engage the boot binding 60.

[0094] In FIG. 15, the rotatable plate 30B is configured with twoparallel slots 105B positioned transversely to the boot binding 60, eachof the slots having a series of angled teeth ridges 107 in the bottom ofthe slot, and the binding retaining means comprises a pair of opposingL-shaped brackets 100A, each having a series of mating angled teeth 106along a bottom surface of a bottom leg. Each of the pairs of L-shapedbrackets 100A is secured within each of the slots 105B with one of theL-shaped brackets on each side of the boot binding 60 contacting theboot binding, wherein the angled teeth ridges 106 of the L-shapedbrackets 100A engage the angled teeth ridges 107 of the slot 105B.

[0095] In FIGS. 20 and 21, the boot binding has a flat bottom surfaceformed of a malleable material and the binding retaining means comprisesa high friction upper surface on the rotatable plate having pointedprotrusions 110 which penetrate the malleable material surface of theboot binding with a high friction secure connection to preventhorizontal movement of the boot binding.

[0096] In FIG. 16, the binding retaining means comprises the rotatableplate 30C having a wide groove in the top surface of the rotatable plate30C having a flat bottom 38 and elevated sides 37B, the wide grooveadapted by varying the shape of the elevated sides 37B accordingly toconform to the shape and size of a boot binding 60A to accommodate theboot binding therein in a tight friction fit with the boot bindingcontacting the elevated sides 37B of the groove along their entirelength.

[0097] In FIG. 19, the binding retaining means comprises the rotatableplate 30E having a wide groove in the top surface of the rotatable platehaving a flat bottom 38 and side walls 15 which protrude above thesurface of the rotatable plate, each of the side walls having at leasttwo holes 16 therein, one of the holes adjacent to a front of the bootbinding and the other adjacent to a back of the boot binding, and ascrew means 21E threaded into each of the holes 16 in the side walls toengage the boot binding 60 secured therebetween.

[0098] In FIG. 17, the rotatable plate 30D has a series of holes 36therein and the binding retaining means comprises at least four screwmeans 17, each fitted with a flexible bushing means 16, the screw meanscapable of being threadedly engaged in selected holes 36 in therotatable plate so that the screw means engage and prevent horizontalmovement of the boot binding on each side of the boot binding adjacentto a front and adjacent to a back of the boot binding.

[0099] In FIGS. 2 and 6-8, the rotatable snowboard boot binding devicehas a double screw locking mechanism 40 capable of locking in a downposition (shown dashed in FIGS. 2 and 6-8) engaging both the base plate50 and the rotatable plate 30B with the end of the locking shaft 47through one of the lock holes 59 in the elevated lock ring 56 of thebase plate 50, so that the rotatable plate 30B is secured to the baseplate 50 to prevent rotation therebetween and the side walls 67 of thesnowboard boot binding 60 secured within the parallel side walls 37 ofthe wide groove 38 of the rotatable plate 50 is stationary relative tothe snowboard 70. The double screw locking mechanism 40 is furthercapable of locking in an up position (shown in solid lines) free of thebase plate 50 to allow rotation between the rotatable plate 30B and thebase plate 50 so that the snowboard boot binding 60 is rotatablerelative to the snowboard 70 without holding the locking means 40.

[0100] In FIGS. 2 and 6-8, the base plate 50 has an elevated lock ring56 with a series of openings 59 around the perimeter of the base plate50. The locking shaft 47 from the rotatable plate 30B is capable ofselectively engaging any one of the openings 59 of the base plate 50 toallow the rotatable plate 30N and boot binding 60A to be securely lockedat any desired horizontal angle to the snowboard 70. The elevated lockring 56 is elevated above the snowboard 70 with a space 57 therebetweenso that the lock holes 59 are elevated above the snowboard and fluidsmay drain from the lock holes to prevent icing in the lock holes 59.

[0101] In FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 the double lock screw lock mechanism 40comprises a square cross-sectioned locking shaft 47 which fits slidablywithin a sleeve 43 with external threads 44 and with four binding tabs45 separated by slots 46, the binding tabs adjacent to the four sides ofthe locking shaft, so that the locking shaft 47 is capable of turningthe externally threaded sleeve 43 to screw the externally threadedsleeve 43 into and out of a locking base 42 secured to the rotatableplate 30. The locking shaft 47 is provided at its top end with aT-shaped handle 41 protruding above the locking base 42 for easygrasping and good leverage in tightening and loosening the screw withgloved or mittened hands. The locking base 42 for receiving the lockingshaft 47 therethrough is attached to the rotatable ring 30 on anelevated side 33 adjacent to the boot binding groove 38. The lockingbase 42 has a hollow vertical opening with internal threads 48 over atop portion and having downwardly and inwardly tapering walls 49 over abottom portion, so that the externally threaded sleeve 43 is capable ofengaging the internal threads 48 of the locking base 42. In a looselyscrewed engagement, as in FIG. 5, the locking shaft 47 is freely movablevertically within the externally threaded sleeve 43. In a tightlyscrewed engagement of the externally threaded sleeve 43 with theinternal threads 48 of the locking base 42, as in FIG. 4, the bindingtabs 45 of the externally threaded sleeve are forced against the lockingshaft 47 by the tapering walls 49 of the locking base 42 securelylocking the locking shaft 47 within the locking base 42. With thelocking shaft 47 screwed tight in the locked position and engaging oneof the openings 59 (as in dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 6-8) in the baseplate 50 it prevents rotation of the rotatable plate 30 and the bootbinding 60. With the locking shaft 47 not engaging one of the openings59 in the base plate 50, (as in solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 6-8) itallows free rotation of the rotatable plate 30 and the boot binding 60without holding the T-shaped handle 41 of the locking mechanism.

[0102] In FIGS. 9 and 10, an alternate embodiment of the lockingmechanism provides an enlarged lock opening 99 in the rotatable plate 30with an elastic element, preferably a spring 90 encircling the lockshaft 47 of the double screw lock to bias the lock shaft toward thelocked mode shown in FIG. 9 when the lock shaft is unscrewed from thereleased mode shown in FIG. 10. The spring 90 is held in place betweenan enlarged tip 95 of the lock shaft 47 and the bottom of the lockingbase 42.

[0103] In FIGS. 11 and 12, another alternate embodiment of the lockingmechanism has an enlarged lock opening 99 in the rotatable plate 30 toreceive an elastic element, preferably a spring 90 surrounding anon-threaded spring-loaded lock shaft 47A of an alternate lockingmechanism 40A with large T-handle 41A. The spring 90 biases the lockshaft 47A in the locked mode position for retaining the snowboard bootbinding in the locked stationary position, as shown in FIG. 11. Theshaft locks automatically from the force of the spring 90 when the lockshaft 47A is let go from the manually held, top plate, released modeposition shown in FIG. 12. It restricts rotation of the top plate 30relative to the bottom plate 50 of the snowboard boot binding. Thespring 90 is held in place between an enlarged tip 95 of the lock shaft47A and the bottom of the locking base 42A.

[0104] In FIGS. 22-25, the locking assembly 120 and 130 comprises atension means, such as a spring 90, for biasing the locking shaft 47Band 47C toward the base plate 50 and the locking shaft further comprisesat least one lateral protrusion extending therefrom, such as theL-shaped handle 122 with the protruding arm 121 of FIGS. 22 and 23 andthe protruding tabs 138 of FIG. 25. A locking base, such as an anglerimmed sleeve 123 with bolt 125 of FIGS. 22 and 23 or a split ring 133with bolt 125 of FIGS. 24 and 25, is attached to the rotatable plate 30.The locking base has a vertical opening 129 and 139 therethrough toadmit the locking shaft fitting slidably therein and the locking basefurther comprising an upper shaft engaging means 124 and 134 forengaging the at least one lateral protrusion 121 and 138 of the lockingshaft in an upper position with the locking shaft 47B and 47C disengagedfrom the base plate and a lower shaft engaging means 126 and 136 forengaging the at least one lateral protrusion of the locking shaft in alower position with the locking shaft 47B and 47C engaging the baseplate 50.

[0105] In FIGS. 22 and 23, the locking base comprises a solid sleeve 123having an angled top rim with a notch opening 124 in a top of the angledrim and a V-configuration 126 at the bottom of the angled rim. The notchopening 124 comprises the upper shaft engaging means and theV-configuration 126 comprises the lower shaft engaging means and the atleast one lateral protrusion of the locking shaft comprises an L-shapedhandle 122 with a flag-like arm 121 protruding laterally from thelocking shaft, the arm 121 of the L-shaped handle capable of beingsecured alternately in the V-configuration 126, as seen in FIG. 22 withthe locking shaft 47B engaged in the base plate 50, and slid upwardlyalong the angled rim and rotated 180 degrees in the notch opening 124with the locking shaft 47B disengaged from the base plate 50 and therotatable plate 30 free to rotate.

[0106] In FIGS. 24 and 25, the preferred embodiment of the lockingmechanism 130 has a T-shaped handle 41A attached to the top of thelocking post 47C and has side tabs 138 protruding from the lock post47C. The locking base comprises a split sleeve 133 having a pair of slitopenings 136 the full height of the split sleeve 133 with one of thepair of slit openings on each of two opposing sides of the split sleeve.The top edge of the split sleeve has a pair of notch openings 134 in theridge with one of the pair of notch openings on each of two opposingsides of the split sleeve orthogonal to the slits. The pair of slitopenings 136 comprises the lower shaft engaging means and the pair ofnotch openings 134 comprises the upper shaft engaging means and the atleast one lateral protrusion, the lateral tabs 138 of the locking shaftprotruding laterally from the locking shaft on opposing sides of thelocking shaft are capable of being secured alternately in the pair ofslit openings 136, as seen in FIG. 24 with the locking shaft 47C engagedin the base plate 50, and lifted upwardly and rotated 90 degrees in thepair of notch openings 134 with the locking shaft 47C disengaged fromthe base plate 50 and the rotatable plate 30 free to rotate.

[0107] In FIG. 13, an alternate embodiment of the rotation safety meanscomprises a pair of springs 93 inserted in the groove 58, with onespring 93 on each side of the mating pin 18 from the rotatable plate(not shown) to regulate the rotation of the rotatable plate relative tothe base plate. The springs 93 are capable of regulating the rate of therotation of the rotatable plate and biasing the rotatable plate toreturn to a single angular orientation relative to the base plate, thesprings alternately biasing the pin to return to the same centralposition in the groove as the rotatable plate is rotated and releasedand maintaining a controlled pressure on the rotatable plate as it isturned. The springs are held in place in the groove by the rotatableplate 30 and the snowboard 70 which sandwich the lock plate 50therebetween. While springs are preferred other elastic elements may beused.

[0108] In FIGS. 16 and 19, an elevated information bearing surface 39 isformed adjacent to the boot binding groove 38 elevated by wall 37 on theside opposite to the lock mechanism 40 on the rotatable plate 30.Information 32 such as an advertising message with a name or phonenumber of the seller of the invention or the name of the owner of thesnowboard may be visibly attached to the information bearing surface 39by a plate 31 screwed on or a label adhered thereto bearing informationaffixed thereon or by imprinting or inscribing the information thereon.

[0109] In FIGS. 1, 2, and 6-8, a safety means is incorporated in thebase plate and the rotatable plate to limit the degree of relativerotation therebetween to permit the snowboard boot to turn within a safelimit and prevent the snowboard boot from turning beyond the safe limit.One of the pair of rigid plates has a groove 58, shown in the base plate50, therein in the shape of an arc of a circle and the other of the pairof the rigid plates has a mating pin 18, shown in the rotatable plate30, protruding downwardly therefrom, the pin 18 engaging the groove 58and thereby limiting the degree of relative rotation of the rigid platesto the degree of the arc of the circular groove 58, which is preferably100 degrees. The groove is preferably cut through the plate and the pinmay be formed with the other plate or welded or bolted on or otherwiseattached. This safety feature prevents over-extension of the knee andankle which might occur if the boot rotated too far. This permits a safelimit of free rotation of the boot while going downhill or performingany other activity.

[0110] The plates and cap of the invention are preferably fabricated ofa non-rust durable material, such as a non-rusting metal plate orstructurally durable molded or injected plastic. The lock shaft ispreferably fabricated of stainless steel or other non-rusting strongmetal. The low-friction ring is preferably fabricated of a low-frictionmaterial such as Nylon®.

[0111] Although the present invention has been described in terms of thepresently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that suchdisclosure is purely illustrative and is not to be interpreted aslimiting. Consequently, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, various alterations, modifications, and/or alternativeapplications of the invention will, no doubt, be suggested to thoseskilled in the art after having read the preceding disclosure.Accordingly, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted asencompassing all alterations, modifications, or alternative applicationsas fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A snowboard boot binding attachment device forsecuring a snowboard boot binding to a snowboard and for permittingangular adjustment and alternate rotation and nonrotation of thesnowboard boot binding relative to the snowboard, comprising: a pair ofrigid plates including a circular base plate adapted to be secured tothe snowboard and a rotatable plate for receiving the snowboard bootbinding to be secured thereto, the rotatable plate being positionedabove the base plate and being rotatably connected to the base platewith one plate having a protruding circular guide post and the otherplate having a mating circular opening for encircling the guide post,the rotatable plate having a binding retaining means for receiving andsecuring a snowboard boot binding selected from a variety of snowboardboot bindings of various sizes and shapes, the binding retaining meansbeing configured to receive and retain any of a variety of sizes andshapes of the snowboard boot bindings and confine the snowboard bootbinding to a single stationary position on the rotatable plate toprevent horizontal movement of the snowboard boot binding relative tothe rotatable plate; a locking assembly for locking the rotatable platein selected positions of angular adjustment relative to the base plateand for selectively maintaining the rotatable plate in either a lockedmode, in which the rotatable plate is prevented from rotating relativeto the base plate or a released mode, in which the rotatable plate isfree to rotate relative to the base plate, the locking assemblyincluding a locking ring formed by a plurality of locking holesextending through a circumferential portion of the base plate, anopening extending through the rotatable plate and alignable with thelocking holes in the selected positions of angular adjustment, and alocking shaft capable of alternating between a locked position extendingthrough the opening of the rotatable plate into one of the plurality oflocking holes in the base plate to retain the rotatable plate in thelocked mode wherein rotation of the rotatable plate is prevented, and anunlocked position with the locking shaft retracted from the one of theplurality of locking holes in the base plate to put the rotatable platein the released mode, thereby permitting angular adjustment of thesnowboard boot binding relative to the snowboard; a safety meansincorporated in the base plate and the rotatable plate, the safety meanscapable of limiting the degree of relative rotation therebetween topermit the snowboard boot to turn within a safe limit and prevent thesnowboard boot from turning beyond the safe limit, the safety meanscomprising one of the pair of rigid plates having a groove therein inthe shape of an arc of a circle and the other of the pair of the rigidplates having a mating pin protruding therefrom, the pin engaging thegroove and thereby limiting the degree of relative rotation of the rigidplates to the degree of the arc of the circular groove.
 2. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the locking assembly further comprises a tension meansfor biasing the locking shaft toward the base plate and the lockingshaft further comprises at least one lateral protrusion extendingtherefrom, a locking base attached to the rotatable plate, the lockingbase having a vertical opening therethrough to admit the locking shaftfitting slidably therein and the locking base further comprising anupper shaft engaging means for engaging the at least one lateralprotrusion of the locking shaft in an upper position with the lockingshaft disengaged from the base plate and a lower shaft engaging meansfor engaging the at least one lateral protrusion of the locking shaft ina lower position with the locking shaft engaging the base plate.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2 wherein the locking base comprises a split sleevehaving a pair of slit openings the full height of the split sleeve withone of the pair of slit openings on each of two opposing sides of thesplit sleeve and further having a top edge with a pair of notch openingsin the ridge with one of the pair of notch openings on each of twoopposing sides of the split sleeve orthogonal to the slits, wherein thepair of slit openings comprises the lower shaft engaging means and thepair of notch openings comprises the upper shaft engaging means and theat least one lateral protrusion of the locking shaft comprises a pair oftabs protruding laterally from the locking shaft on opposing sides ofthe locking shaft, the pair of tabs capable of being secured alternatelyin the pair of slit openings and the pair of notch openings.
 4. Thedevice of claim 2 wherein the locking base comprises a solid sleevehaving an angled top rim with a notch opening in a top of the angled rimand a V-configuration at the bottom of the angled rim, wherein the notchopening comprises the upper shaft engaging means and the V-configurationcomprises the lower shaft engaging means and the at least one lateralprotrusion of the locking shaft comprises an L-shaped handle protrudinglaterally from the locking shaft, the L-shaped handle capable of beingsecured alternately in the notch and the V-configuration.
 5. The deviceof claim 1 further comprising a cap plate for securing the boot bindingto the rotatable plate so that the boot binding and rotatable plate arerotatable relative to the base plate, the boot binding having a circularopening therethrough and the cap plate having an elevated peripheral rimand a downwardly protruding circular bottom smaller in diameter than thebinding circular opening so that the downwardly protruding circularbottom of the cap plate is capable of fitting in the mating circularopening and contacting the rotatable plate to which the cap plate issecured, while the elevated peripheral rim of the cap plate secures theboot binding to the rotatable plate.
 6. The device of claim 1 furthercomprising a cap plate for securing the boot binding and the rotatableplate to the base plate so that the boot binding and rotatable plate arerotatable relative to the base plate and the cap plate, the rotatableplate and the boot binding having mating circular openings therethroughand the cap plate having an elevated peripheral rim and a downwardlyprotruding circular bottom smaller in diameter than the mating circularopenings so that the downwardly protruding circular bottom of the capplate is capable of fitting in the mating circular openings andcontacting the base plate to which the cap plate is secured, while theelevated peripheral rim of the cap plate is sufficiently elevated abovethe boot binding so that the rotatable plate and the boot binding arerotatable relative to the base plate and the cap plate, with therotatable plate and the boot binding sandwiched therebetween, and theboot binding is restricted from vertical movement relative to therotatable plate.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the rotatable plate isconfigured with two parallel slots positioned transversely to the bootbinding, each of the slots having a series of holes in the bottom of theslot, and the binding retaining means comprises a pair of opposingL-shaped brackets, each having an elongated opening through a bottomleg, and a screw means for each of the L-shaped brackets securing eachof the L-shaped brackets adjustably through the elongated opening ofeach of the L-shaped brackets and into one of the series of holes withineach of the slots with one of the L-shaped brackets on each side of theboot binding contacting the boot binding.
 8. The device of claim 7wherein each of the pair of L-shaped brackets further comprises athreaded opening through a top leg and further comprising a screw meanscapable of being threaded through each threaded opening to engage theboot binding.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the rotatable plate isconfigured with two parallel slots positioned transversely to the bootbinding, each of the slots having a series of angled teeth ridges in thebottom of the slot, and the binding retaining means comprises a pair ofopposing L-shaped brackets, each having a series of mating angled teethalong a bottom surface of a bottom leg, wherein each of the pairs ofL-shaped brackets is secured within each of the slots with one of theL-shaped brackets on each side of the boot binding contacting the bootbinding, wherein the angled teeth ridges of the L-shaped brackets engagethe angled teeth ridges of the slot.
 10. The device of claim 1 whereinthe boot binding has a flat bottom surface formed of a malleablematerial and the binding retaining means comprises a high friction uppersurface on the rotatable plate having pointed protrusions whichpenetrate the malleable material surface of the boot binding with a highfriction secure connection to prevent horizontal movement of the bootbinding.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein the binding retaining meanscomprises the rotatable plate having a wide groove in the top surface ofthe rotatable plate having a flat bottom and elevated sides, the widegroove adapted to conform to the shape and size of a boot binding toaccommodate the boot binding therein in a tight friction fit with theboot binding contacting the elevated sides of the groove along theirentire length.
 12. The device of claim 1 wherein the binding retainingmeans comprises the rotatable plate having a wide groove in the topsurface of the rotatable plate having a flat bottom and side walls whichprotrude above the surface of the rotatable plate, each of the sidewalls having at least two holes therein one of the holes adjacent to afront of the boot binding and the other adjacent to a back of the bootbinding, and a screw means threaded into each of the holes in the sidewalls to engage the boot binding secured therebetween.
 13. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the rotatable plate has a series of holes therein andthe binding retaining means comprises at least four screw means, eachfitted with a flexible bushing means, the screw means capable of beingthreadedly engaged in selected holes in the rotatable plate so that thescrew means engage and prevent horizontal movement of the boot bindingon each side of the boot binding adjacent to a front and adjacent to aback of the boot binding.
 14. The device of claim 1 further comprisingat least one elastic element interconnecting the rotatable plate and thebase plate to regulate the rotation of the rotatable plate relative tothe base plate, wherein the at least one elastic element comprises atleast one spring inserted in the groove in contact with the pin, the atleast one spring capable of regulating the rate of the rotation of therotatable plate and biasing the rotatable plate to return to a singleangular orientation relative to the base plate.
 15. The device of claim14 wherein a pair of springs are inserted in the groove with one springon each side of the pin.
 16. The device of claim 15 wherein the arc ofthe circular groove is approximately 100 degrees.
 17. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the locking shaft is provided at its top end with aT-shaped handle protruding above the rotatable plate.
 18. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the locking ring having the locking holes therein iselevated above the snowboard so that fluids may drain from the lockingholes and icing of the locking holes is prevented.
 19. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising a roller bearing between the rotatable plateand the base plate to facilitate rotation therebetween.
 20. The deviceof claim 1 wherein the rotatable plate further comprises a smoothinformation surface capable of displaying information thereon visible onthe top of the rotatable plate.